The unit design was created in line with the areas of focus for kindergarten mathematics as identified by the Common Core State Standards. Each unit is comprised of standards that are considered major content along with supporting content.

Counting and Cardinality standards in unit 1 continue through unit 3. One of these standards, namely, “Count to 100 by ones and tens” [K.CC.1] is not mastered until the end of the year for all students; instead, graduated benchmark SLOs for this standard occur in all five units. Benchmarking is used in the model curriculum for specific standards that, if taught in entirety, would extend the time needed for mastery beyond six weeks. Benchmarked standards give students time for practice and continued development throughout the year. The fluency standard [K.OA.5] is benchmarked. Patterns, decomposition, measurement, and geometric shapes are the standards scattered among unit 2 through unit 5.